I've mentioned previously that Kyle and I are pretty keen to go with a waterless composting toilet. We've done a lot of research and concluded that building our own is the easiest/cheapest/most reliable path for us to take to get there. We know that for an owner-built model NSW Health does not need to approve our system (this used to be required, but as of 2006 ammendment to the rules, and a later complete regulatory update, NSW Health delegates authority to the local council to approve so long as you aren't manufacturing them). We also know that most people in Australia who have built something similar haven't sought council approval. This isn't an option for us, as details of waste management are required as part of the development application for the house so if we don't succeed with this we'll have to put in a septic system and flushing loo's, which would be a shame. But it means we don't have much to go on about how to actually get it approved.
The Council hadn't had an application for an owner-built WCT before and weren't sure what kind of paperwork to ask for, so we politely suggested we might use the guidelines from the original regulation (from back in 1997) and see how that went.
Given the Council's unsure-but-game attitude we figure there's then a little bit of pressure on us to dot our i's and cross our t's so we don't muck it up for anyone else who wants to do this in the future. If Council has a good experience this time around, and are confident of our ability to avoid risk to the public health, they'll be more likely to look favourably on such applications in future. To that end, I've prepared what I hope is a very thorough application for a Waterless Composting Toilet.
Firstly, what is even required in such an application? According to the old rules:
The Council hadn't had an application for an owner-built WCT before and weren't sure what kind of paperwork to ask for, so we politely suggested we might use the guidelines from the original regulation (from back in 1997) and see how that went.
Given the Council's unsure-but-game attitude we figure there's then a little bit of pressure on us to dot our i's and cross our t's so we don't muck it up for anyone else who wants to do this in the future. If Council has a good experience this time around, and are confident of our ability to avoid risk to the public health, they'll be more likely to look favourably on such applications in future. To that end, I've prepared what I hope is a very thorough application for a Waterless Composting Toilet.
Firstly, what is even required in such an application? According to the old rules:
- Plans and Specifications for the proposed WCT (details of which are specified further)
- Householder's Reference Manual outlining installation/operation/maintenance/trouble-shooting (the contents of this are specified further)
- Placard with basic instructions to be hung on the wall next to the WCT
- "Any further information required by the Council" (they haven't yet asked for anything in particular)
After initial approval, there's a process of inspections every few years as well (more forms and money to be paid).
What we wanted to do in the beginning was simply get approval to use a Jenkins-style loveable loo. However, the regulations specifically state that owner-built models must be the owner's own design, and that the health department is aware there are plans available on the internet. So really, if you want someone else to design it for you you have to buy an officially registered model. Since the only officially registered model that even approaches the functional simplicity and published evidentiary basis of Jenkins version is over $900 (which is more than double what it will cost for us to apply for approval and build the thing anyway), and then you have to order specially designed extra buckets on top, we decided to push ahead with a more 'original' version. I've done a lot of research, and have spent a lot of time trying to walk a delicate borderline between existing models that are evidenced to work well (being totally original strikes me as a fundamentally bad idea for this kind of thing) and designing for our particular circumstances and environment as the regulations require.
So, this is what we're sending:
What we wanted to do in the beginning was simply get approval to use a Jenkins-style loveable loo. However, the regulations specifically state that owner-built models must be the owner's own design, and that the health department is aware there are plans available on the internet. So really, if you want someone else to design it for you you have to buy an officially registered model. Since the only officially registered model that even approaches the functional simplicity and published evidentiary basis of Jenkins version is over $900 (which is more than double what it will cost for us to apply for approval and build the thing anyway), and then you have to order specially designed extra buckets on top, we decided to push ahead with a more 'original' version. I've done a lot of research, and have spent a lot of time trying to walk a delicate borderline between existing models that are evidenced to work well (being totally original strikes me as a fundamentally bad idea for this kind of thing) and designing for our particular circumstances and environment as the regulations require.
So, this is what we're sending:
For anyone reading this into the future, I will point out that you cannot use this document in Australia as the basis to put forward your own application (so far as I'm aware - specific local councils might have set up their own regulatory frameworks). The regulations are very specific that owner-built models must be of the owners own design, not simply plans downloaded off the internet (it states this in pretty much those words). This document is intended as an example, because that's exactly what would have been helpful to us to look at before we had to write our own.
At this point various people from the Council have already seen drafts of this document and offered advice, however this has not yet been approved. I've emphasised to everyone we've spoken to that we want to get this right, and whilst we've done our homework and are committed to this pathway we understand there are good reasons why regulations exist and aren't seeking to sit outside of them, just trying to find our way through them. Whilst it's often taken a long time to get answers from them (quite understandable as the questions we're asking aren't exactly run-of-the-mill) they've been reasonably helpful about it all.
I'll post a follow-up when we find out one way or another letting everyone know what the official Council response is.
At this point various people from the Council have already seen drafts of this document and offered advice, however this has not yet been approved. I've emphasised to everyone we've spoken to that we want to get this right, and whilst we've done our homework and are committed to this pathway we understand there are good reasons why regulations exist and aren't seeking to sit outside of them, just trying to find our way through them. Whilst it's often taken a long time to get answers from them (quite understandable as the questions we're asking aren't exactly run-of-the-mill) they've been reasonably helpful about it all.
I'll post a follow-up when we find out one way or another letting everyone know what the official Council response is.
Update: This application has just been given the nod of approval. This isn't formal approval (that will come with the Development Application), rather I sent it to them to get some feedback and they sent me back an email saying yup this will do. So I have no reason to believe it won't go through with the final DA.
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